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They have also reintroduced a 'Value Gold' scheme, whereby fans can put their name down for a single seat anywhere inside the Etihad Stadium at the lowest price.

The nominal increases were not unexpected, but some fans are left disheartened at any hike at all - particularly after Guardiola outlined his thoughts about atmosphere at home games to chief executive Ferran Soriano.

City maintain they remain 'significantly cheaper than regional rivals' and are in dialogue with supporters about how best to improve the 'matchday experience'.

A statement from the 1894 Group read: 'We have Pep asking people in the club what can they do about the atmosphere. But our message is you can't have it both ways.

Fans were informed of the raise on Tuesday, although the cheapest season ticket remains £299

'You either make it all about the money or you try and ensure we have a partisan atmosphere at home games. That could mean the difference between finishing fourth and first. The club (would) make even more through prize money than they ever would from stealth rises.

'Stealth rises are still rises and we know there will be many fans who decide it's one rise too many and will jack it in.

'Of course there are some fans who feel the rises are acceptable and others will renew even though they have told us they feel a price freeze would have been fair.'

City also shifted the band of children's tickets, with the 16-17 bracket scrapped and all now merged in an Under-18 range, priced at £95.

Pep Guardiola has told his City bosses that improving the Etihad atmosphere must be a priority

The cost of new 'Tunnel Club' season cards - where fans have a view of City's stars gearing up for matches - are understood to start at £7,000.

'Every year it goes more and more corporate at our place,' the 1894 Group statement continued.

'The rising prices cannot be justified given the TV deals and the silly amount of money that is now in the game at the top level. The benefits of that are not being passed down to the fans.'